(Baonghean.vn) - Not only can he play musical instruments well and sing well, artisan Truong Song Huong, a son of Dua village, Son Tien hamlet, Tho Hop commune (Quy Hop) can also make musical instruments, most of which are trumpets - a unique instrument, considered the "soul" of the Tho people's music.
Clip of artist Truong Song Huong performing a Tho trumpet tune
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In the musical instruments of the Tho people, the trumpet is considered the "soul", its sound becomes an indispensable part of community life. From the trumpet to celebrate the first birthday, the trumpet to call friends to the trumpet to celebrate a new house, enjoy the village festival and the trumpet to send the deceased to the eternal world... According to artisan Truong Song Huong, the trumpet is only 25 cm long, consisting of three main parts that can be disassembled, namely the mouthpiece, the body and the trumpet speaker. However, the manufacturing process is not simple. |
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| The important detail of the whole trumpet is the reed. It looks simple but if it is not done properly, no matter how beautiful the trumpet is, no matter how long the breath of the person blowing it is, the trumpet will not make any sound. In the past, people made the reed from cardamom leaves, now it is made from thin plastic but it has to go through many stages, from cutting, filing..., only then will the sound be thin and clear. |
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| The middle part is the body of the trumpet, made of hollowed-out wood with a diameter of about 3cm at its largest point. The body of the trumpet must have 7 holes for the sound to be played, the distance between the holes must follow the family's secret recipe, so that the trumpet can be blown to the right "tone" of high and low. |
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| The last part is the horn, made of wood with a diameter of about 10 cm. |
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| "Only by knowing how to blow a trumpet can one make a good trumpet, because throughout the process of hollowing out the core, punching holes in the body, making the trumpet's blades... one must examine the sound and adjust it little by little," said Mr. Huong. |
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| To make a traditional trumpet, even skilled and experienced people have to spend several days to complete it. Because all the steps are done by hand. Artisan Truong Song Huong worries: In reality, the number of people who know how to make a traditional trumpet can be counted on the fingers, so it is our responsibility to pass it on to the younger generation. However, today's youth are not very interested. Partly because making the trumpet's veneer and carving the trumpet's body requires meticulousness and elaboration, partly because of the worry about making a living, when the time from starting to learn how to make a trumpet to making a trumpet can take months, sometimes even a year... |
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| Not to mention, to make a trumpet, besides requiring perseverance and meticulousness, above all, one must have love for Turkish culture and Turkish music. |
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| According to artisan Truong Song Huong, after decades of pursuing his passion, he can’t remember how many musical instruments he has made, most of which are trumpets. However, the goal is not to sell at a high price, but above all to expand and spread the knowledge of people who know how to play and appreciate, thereby contributing to preserving the unique features of a musical instrument in particular and the culture of a nation in general. |
Quang An
Technique: Duong Tuan
